Exercising machine having double-shaft type drive system with high speed ratio

ABSTRACT

An exercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio, includes a drive system mounted on the support frame and the support bracket. The drive system includes a drive shaft mounted on the support frame, a driven shaft mounted on the support bracket, a reluctance wheel assembly mounted on the drive shaft, a driven variable-speed wheel assembly mounted on the driven shaft, and a reluctance adjusting device mounted on the support frame for mating with the reluctance wheel assembly. The driven variable-speed wheel assembly, the reluctance wheel assembly and the reluctance adjusting device are respectively provided on the drive shaft and the driven shaft, thereby greatly reducing the volume of the drive system, so that the drive system may have a miniature structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an exercising machine having adouble-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio, and moreparticularly to an exercising machine having a double-shaft type drivesystem with a high speed ratio, wherein the drive system may have aminiature structure.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional exercising machine, such as an exercising bicycle,comprises a drive system, and a damping mechanism for applying a dampingeffect to the drive system, thereby providing an exercising effect tothe user. The damping mechanism usually employs a spring to apply anelastic damping effect. However, the spring is easily loosened during along-term utilization, thereby greatly decreasing the damping effect. Inaddition, formation of the damping effect is achieved by the springclamping the woven strap. Thus, the damping effect is provided byfriction whose action is like a brake, so that the user easily feelsuncomfortable during the exercising process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide anexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio, wherein the driven variable-speed wheel assembly, thereluctance wheel assembly and the reluctance adjusting device arerespectively provided on the drive shaft and the driven shaft, therebygreatly reducing the volume of the drive system, so that the drivesystem may have a miniature structure.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided anexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio, comprising:

[0007] a body, having a base;

[0008] a support frame mounted on the base;

[0009] a support bracket mounted on the base; and

[0010] a drive system mounted on the support frame and the supportbracket, and including:

[0011] a drive shaft mounted on the support frame;

[0012] a driven shaft mounted on the support bracket;

[0013] a reluctance wheel assembly mounted on the drive shaft;

[0014] a driven variable-speed wheel assembly mounted on the drivenshaft; and

[0015] a reluctance adjusting device mounted on the support frame formating with the reluctance wheel assembly.

[0016] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a partially perspective view of an exercising machinehaving a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a partially perspective view of an exercising machinehaving a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a side plan cross-sectional view of the exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioas shown in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a top plan cross-sectional view of the exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioas shown in FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a front plan cross-sectional assembly view of theexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio as shown in FIG. 6; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of theexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, anexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a body 10 having a base 11 provided with multiplehorizontally arranged support feet 12, and multiple foot pads 13attached to the support feet 12. A support frame 14 is mounted on thebase 11. An inverted U-shaped support bracket 16 is mounted on one endof the base 11. A drive system “A” is mounted on the support frame 14and the support bracket 16.

[0026] The drive system “A” includes a drive shaft 20 mounted on thesupport frame 14, and a driven shaft 30 mounted on the support bracket16. A reluctance wheel assembly 50 is mounted on the drive shaft 20, adriven variable-speed wheel assembly 40 is mounted on the driven shaft30, and a reluctance adjusting device 60 is mounted on the support frame14 for mating with the reluctance wheel assembly 50, thereby forming thedrive system “A”. A housing 15 may be mounted on the support frame 14for protecting the drive system “A”.

[0027] A bearing 140 is mounted on the support frame 14 for allowingpassage and rotation of the drive shaft 20. The support bracket 16 isformed with receiving slots 161, so that the driven shaft 30 may besecured in the receiving slots 161 of the support bracket 16 by nuts 31.A pivot shaft 142 and a stop portion 143 are mounted on the supportframe 14 for mounting the reluctance adjusting device 60.

[0028] Each of the two ends of the drive shaft 20 is provided with acrank axle 21 that is pivoted with a pedal 210 for rotating the driveshaft 20. A drive wheel 22 is secured on the drive shaft 20, so that thedrive wheel 22 may be rotated by the drive shaft 20.

[0029] The driven variable-speed wheel assembly 40 includes a bushing 41which contains a bearing therein so that the bushing 41 may be rotatedon the driven shaft 30 that is fixed on the support bracket 16. A firstwheel 42 is secured on the bushing 41 for rotating the bushing 41. Afirst drawing belt 23 is mounted between the drive wheel 22 and thefirst wheel 42, so that the first wheel 42 may be rotated by the drivewheel 22.

[0030] A first mounting axle 410 is integrally formed on the first wheel42 to rotate therewith. A second wheel 43 is rotatably mounted on thedriven shaft 30, and has a diameter greater than that of the first wheel42. A second mounting axle 411 is integrally formed on the second wheel43, and is mounted on the first mounting axle 410 of the first wheel 42.A single direction bearing 412 is mounted between the first mountingaxle 410 of the first wheel 42 and the second mounting axle 411 of thesecond wheel 43, so that the first wheel 42 may drive the second wheel43 to rotate along one direction only, and the second wheel 43 will idlealong the other direction.

[0031] The reluctance wheel assembly 50 includes a wheel bushing 51which contains a bearing therein so that the wheel bushing 51 may berotated on the drive shaft 20. A third wheel 52 is integrally formed ona first end of the wheel bushing 51 for rotating the wheel bushing 51. Areluctance wheel disk 53 is integrally formed on a second end of thewheel bushing 51, and has a diameter greater than that of the thirdwheel 52. A second drawing belt 44 is mounted between the second wheel43 and the third wheel 52, so that the second wheel 43 may drive androtate the third wheel 52 which may drive and rotate the reluctancewheel disk 53.

[0032] The reluctance adjusting device 60 is mounted on the supportframe 14 for mating with the reluctance wheel assembly 50, and includesan adjusting member 61 having a pivot portion 62 pivotally mounted onthe pivot shaft 142 of the support frame 14. The adjusting member 61 isformed with a reluctance groove 63 that is enclosed around the peripheryof the reluctance wheel disk 53. A reluctance member 64 is mounted inthe reluctance groove 63 to form a magnetic field in the reluctancegroove 63. A wire passage portion 65 that is formed with a through holeis mounted on the adjusting member 61. An adjusting wire 66 has a firstend passed through and secured on the wire passage portion 65. Theadjusting wire 66 is passed through a restoring spring 67, and ispositioned on the stop portion 143 of the support frame 14. Theadjusting wire 66 has a second end secured to an adjusting knob 68.

[0033] In operation, when the user's two feet step on the pedals 210,the drive shaft 20 may be rotated to rotate the drive wheel 22 whichdrives and rotates the first wheel 42 which rotates the second wheel 43which drives and rotates the third wheel 52 which rotates the reluctancewheel disk 53.

[0034] Thus, by different ratios of the diameters between the drivewheel 22, the first wheel 42, the second wheel 43, the third wheel 52,and the reluctance wheel disk 53, a high speed ratio is produced betweenthe drive shaft 20 and the driven shaft 30, so that the rotational speedof the reluctance wheel disk 53 is much greater than that of the drivewheel 22.

[0035] When the reluctance wheel disk 53 is rotated in the reluctancegroove 63 at a high speed, the magnetic field formed by the reluctancemember 64 mounted in the reluctance groove 63 is cut largely, therebyproviding an efficient magnetic resistance effect or reluctance effect,so that the reluctance adjusting device 60 may provide a greater dampingforce to damp rotation of the reluctance wheel disk 53, so as to in turndamp rotation of the drive wheel 22, such that the user has to exert alarger stepping force on the pedals 210, thereby providing an exercisingeffect.

[0036] The adjusting wire 66 may be pulled by the adjusting knob 68 tomove the adjusting member 61 to move toward the reluctance wheel disk 53or to move outward relative to the reluctance wheel disk 53, so that thereluctance adjusting device 60 may be used to adjust the damping forceexerted on the reluctance wheel disk 53. Thus, the distance between theadjusting member 61 of the reluctance adjusting device 60 and thereluctance wheel disk 53 of reluctance wheel assembly 50 may be changedso as to change the reluctance effect.

[0037] An elastic press device 70 may be used to adjust the tension onthe drawing belt 23 or 44. For example, the elastic press device 70includes a press arm 71 pivotally mounted on the support bracket 16, anelastic compression member 72 has first end secured on a first end ofthe press arm 71 and a second end secured on the support frame 14, and apress wheel 73 rotatably mounted on a second end of the press arm 71 andpressed on the drawing belt 23 for adjusting the tension on the drawingbelt 23, thereby enhancing the stability of the drive motion of thedrive system “A”.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an exercising machine having adouble-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention is mounted in thesupport frame 14, thereby forming a miniature structure. Thus, the drivewheel 22, the driven variable-speed wheel assembly 40, the reluctancewheel assembly 50 and the reluctance adjusting device 60 on the driveshaft 20 and the driven shaft 30 may be wholly received in the supportframe 14, so that the drive system “A” may have a miniature structure.

[0039] In conclusion, in accordance with the present invention, thedriven variable-speed wheel assembly 40, the reluctance wheel assembly50 and the reluctance adjusting device 60 are respectively provided onthe drive shaft 20 and the driven shaft 30, thereby greatly reducing thevolume of the drive system “A”, so that the drive system “A” may have aminiature structure.

[0040] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood thatmany other possible modifications and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore,contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover suchmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercising machine having a double-shaft typedrive system with a high speed ratio, comprising: a body, having a base;a support frame mounted on the base; a support bracket mounted on thebase; and a drive system mounted on the support frame and the supportbracket, and including: a drive shaft mounted on the support frame; adriven shaft mounted on the support bracket; a reluctance wheel assemblymounted on the drive shaft; a driven variable-speed wheel assemblymounted on the driven shaft; and a reluctance adjusting device mountedon the support frame for mating with the reluctance wheel assembly. 2.The exercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with ahigh speed ratio in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base of thebody is provided with multiple horizontal support feet, and multiplefoot pads attached to the support feet.
 3. The exercising machine havinga double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio in accordancewith claim 1, further comprising a bearing mounted on the support framefor allowing passage and rotation of the drive shaft.
 4. The exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with claim 1, wherein the support bracket is formed withreceiving slots, so that the driven shaft may be secured in thereceiving slots of the support bracket by nuts.
 5. The exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pivot shaft and a stopportion mounted on the support frame for mounting the reluctanceadjusting device.
 6. The exercising machine having a double-shaft typedrive system with a high speed ratio in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising a drive wheel secured on the drive shaft, so that the drivewheel may be rotated by the drive shaft.
 7. The exercising machinehaving a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio inaccordance with claim 6, wherein the driven variable-speed wheelassembly includes: a bushing rotatably mounted on the driven shaft thatis fixed on the support bracket; a first wheel secured on the bushingfor rotating the bushing; a first drawing belt mounted between the drivewheel and the first wheel, so that the first wheel may be rotated by thedrive wheel; a first mounting axle integrally formed on the first wheelto rotate therewith; a second wheel rotatably mounted on the drivenshaft, and having a diameter greater than that of the first wheel; asecond mounting axle integrally formed on the second wheel, and mountedon the first mounting axle of the first wheel; and a single directionbearing mounted between the first mounting axle of the first wheel andthe second mounting axle of the second wheel, so that the first wheelmay drive the second wheel to rotate along one direction only, and thesecond wheel will idle along the other direction.
 8. The exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with claim 7, wherein the reluctance wheel assemblyincludes: a wheel bushing rotatably mounted on the drive shaft; a thirdwheel integrally formed on a first end of the wheel bushing for rotatingthe wheel bushing; a reluctance wheel disk integrally formed on a secondend of the wheel bushing, and having a diameter greater than that of thethird wheel; and a second drawing belt mounted between the second wheeland the third wheel, so that the second wheel may drive and rotate thethird wheel which may drive and rotate the reluctance wheel disk.
 9. Theexercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with a highspeed ratio in accordance with claim 8, wherein the reluctance adjustingdevice includes: an adjusting member having a pivot portion pivotallymounted on a pivot shaft of the support frame, and formed with areluctance groove that is enclosed around a periphery of the reluctancewheel disk; and a reluctance member mounted in the reluctance groove toform a magnetic field in the reluctance groove.
 10. The exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with claim 9, wherein the reluctance adjusting devicefurther includes: a wire passage portion mounted on the adjustingmember; an adjusting wire having a first end passed through and securedon the wire passage portion; and an adjusting knob secured to a secondend of the adjusting wire.
 11. The exercising machine having adouble-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio in accordancewith claim 10, wherein the adjusting wire is passed through a restoringspring, and is positioned on a stop portion of the support frame. 12.The exercising machine having a double-shaft type drive system with ahigh speed ratio in accordance with claim 7, further comprising anelastic press device mounted on the first drawing belt for adjusting thetension on the first drawing belt.
 13. The exercising machine having adouble-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratio in accordancewith claim 12, wherein the elastic press device includes: a press armpivotally mounted on the support bracket; an elastic compression memberhaving first end secured on a first end of the press arm and a secondend secured on the support frame; and a press wheel rotatably mounted ona second end of the press arm and pressed on the first drawing belt foradjusting the tension on the first drawing belt.
 14. The exercisingmachine having a double-shaft type drive system with a high speed ratioin accordance with claim 8, further comprising an elastic press devicemounted on the second drawing belt for adjusting the tension on thesecond drawing belt.